Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

ELLINGTON, Mercer

(b 11 March '19, Washington DC; d 8 Feb. '96, Copenhagen) Trumpet, composer, arranger, bandleader; son of Duke Ellington. Studied formally at Columbia U, Juilliard, NYU; formed own band '39 with Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, arr. by Billy Strayhorn. He is credited with writing 'Blue Serge', 'John Hardy's Wife', 'Things Ain't What They Used To Be', 'Moon Mist' etc recorded by Duke '40--42. After WWII military service Mercer led his own band until '49; worked for Duke '50 and ran Mercer Records '50--52 with Leonard Feather during a hard period of transition: some superb Ellington small-group recordings were made, but a tiny independent couldn't afford to issue records on three speeds. With Cootie Williams '54; assistant to Duke '55--9; resumed playing and had own band at Birdland '59. Own albums Stepping Into Society, Colors In Rhythm on Coral (compilation Black And Tan Fantasy later on MCA). Disc jockey on WLIB NYC three years; rejoined Duke '65 managing band, playing trumpet; took over leadership on Duke's death, hiring younger players incl. son Edward on guitar (Mercer's daughter Mercedes had been the first black girl to dance on network TV in a mixed chorus line Oct. '63). Backed Diahann Carroll on A Tribute To Ethel Waters '78; played at Newport Jazz Festival '80; albums by the ghost band incl. Continuum on Fantasy, Hot And Bothered '86 on Dr Jazz, Digital Duke '87 on GRP (band incl. Branford Marsalis, Louie Bellson, Clark Terry). Led band for musical Sophisticated Ladies '80--81 based on Duke's music; also looked after Love You Madly, a PBS special '83, American Musical Theater Festival prod. of Queenie Pie '86, etc. Duke Ellington In Person: An Intimate Memoir written with Stanley Dance '78 was a revealing book about having a famous and difficult father.